CVE-2018-1123: procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a denial of service in ps via mmap buffer overflow

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-1123?

procps-ng: upgrade to 3.3.15; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2018-1123 being exploited?

CVE-2018-1123 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2018-1123 affect?

CVE-2018-1123 affects procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is low (CVSS 3.9). procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a denial of service in ps via mmap buffer overflow. Inbuilt protection in ps maps a guard page at the end of the overflowed buffer, ensuring that the impact of this flaw is limited to a crash

Q: How urgent is CVE-2018-1123?

Priority 47/100. EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This week

LOW 3.9WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-1123 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 3.9) affecting procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a denial of service in ps via mmap buffer overflow. Inbuilt protection in ps maps a guard page at the end of the overflowed buffer, ensuring that the impact of this flaw is limited to a crash (temporary denial of service).

Why this priority

EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	3.9 (Low)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	8.9% (top 5%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-122, CWE-119
Published	2018-05-23
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: canonical · debian · procps-ng project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-05-23 14:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:50 UTCUpdated Record last modified

procps-ng project procps-ng UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.3.15

Fixed in: 3.3.15

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy procps-ng || rpm -q procps-ng || procps-ng --version

2. UPGRADE to 3.3.15 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade procps-ng

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade procps-ng

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 14.04 · 16.04 · 17.10 · 18.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Procps-ng - Multiple Vulnerabilities

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2018-1123?

procps-ng: upgrade to 3.3.15; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-1123 being exploited?

CVE-2018-1123 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2018-1123 affect?

CVE-2018-1123 affects procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is low (CVSS 3.9). procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a denial of service in ps via mmap buffer overflow. Inbuilt protection in ps maps a guard page at the end of the overflowed buffer, ensuring that the impact of this flaw is limited to a crash

How urgent is CVE-2018-1123?

Priority 47/100. EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2018-1126 MEDIUM 4.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to an incorrect integer size in proc/alloc.* leading to truncati
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CVE-2018-1124 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to multiple integer overflows leading to a heap corruption in fi
CVE-2018-1122 HIGH 7.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation in top

References

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